Aeschylusaeschylus

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AeschylusAeschylus

•The Life and Times of Aeschylus •Aeschylus’ Contributions to Greek Tragedy • Overview of Myth: The House of Atreus •Aeschylus’ Agamemnon AeschylusAeschylus LifeLife andand TimesTimes

•after winning both the Persian Wars, the Athenians’ spirits soared •they threw themselves into the arts with unprecedented energy and confidence • tragedy was among those arts, one which received much public attention AeschylusAeschylus LifeLife andand TimesTimes

•the first tragedian whose work survives is AeschylusAeschylus (ca. 525 BCE ‐ 456 BCE) • according to his tombstone, Aeschylus fought in the Persian Wars •but it does not mention his drama • according to him, then, his most important achievement in life was fighting for freedom, not writing plays AeschylusAeschylus LifeLife andand TimesTimes

•Aeschylus won the Dionysia for the first time in 484 BCE •he produced his last known trilogy in 458 BCE: Oresteia (including Agamemnon) •he wrote and produced over eighty plays during his life •thus, he entered the Dionysia at least twenty times AeschylusAeschylus ContributionsContributions toto DramaDrama

•but only seven of his plays have survived •most in school texts, cf. Epic of Gilgamesh • nevertheless, we can see that he was the most important playwright of his day: –he won five or more victories at the Dionysia –later playwrights often referenced and imitated—and satirized!—his work –the audiences of the next generation enjoyed revivals of his drama AeschylusAeschylus ContributionsContributions toto DramaDrama

•Aeschylus introduced the second actor (hypocrites) to the stage •thus, he was the inventor of dialogue in the conventional sense of the word, i.e. between actors (vs. actor and chorus) •later, the principal actor came to be called the protagonistprotagonist (“first contender”) AeschylusAeschylus ContributionsContributions toto DramaDrama

•Aeschylus focused on creating languagelanguage that was effective and affecting on stage •his poetry is lofty, ornate and complex •indeed, it is some of the most difficult to understand but most beautiful Greek ever written, cf. Shakespeare •at times, his imagery is so dense that it was rumored he wrote his plays drunk! AeschylusAeschylus TheThe HouseHouse ofof AtreusAtreus

•the story of the House of Atreus is the mythic cycle of ArgosArgos •but Argos is not where Atreus’ family came from originally AeschylusAeschylus TheThe HouseHouse ofof AtreusAtreus

Tantalus Oenomaus Atreus’ Family Tree Tantalus (Lydia) (Elis)

Pelops + Hippodameia

•the story begins with TantalusTantalus(Argos) , the king of LydiaAtreus (Asia Minor) Thyestes Zeus + Leda Zeus + Leda •Tantalus was a favorite(1) of the gods(2) •wHelenhe +n Menelausthe gods Agamemnon came to + Clytemnestradine with + Aeg him,isthus (Sparta) (Argos) he wanted to serve something special •he cut up andIphige cookednia Electra his sonOrestes PelopsPelops AeschylusAeschylus TheThe HouseHouse ofof AtreusAtreus

Tantalus Oenomaus Atreus’ Family Tree Tantalus (Lydia) (Elis)

Pelops + Hippodameia

•in some versions of the myth,(Argos) he wanted to Atreustest the gods’ omniscienceThyestes Zeus + Leda Zeus + Leda •the gods mercifully restored(1) Pelops(2) to Helenlife and+ Menelaus punished Agamemnon Tantalus + Clytemnestra in Hades + Aegisthus (Sparta) (Argos) •he stands forever “tantalized” (thirsty and hungry)Iphige in ania river Electra by anOrestes orchard AeschylusAeschylus TheThe HouseHouse ofof AtreusAtreus

Tantalus Oenomaus Atreus’ Family Tree Oenomaus (Lydia) (Elis)

Pelops + Hippodameia

•Pelops fled to ElisElis (NW Greece)(Argos) •the king ofAtreus Elis was OenomausOenomaus whoThyestes Zeus + Leda Zeus + Leda had only one daughter(1) HippodameiaHippodameia(2) • HelenOenomaus + Menelaus raced Agamemnon her suitors + Clytemnestra in a + Aegchariotisthus (Sparta) (Argos) •if the suitor won, he got Hippodameia •if he lost, he Iphigewasnia executed Electra onOrestes the spot AeschylusAeschylus TheThe HouseHouse ofof AtreusAtreus

Tantalus Oenomaus Atreus’ Family Tree Oenomaus (Lydia) (Elis)

Pelops + Hippodameia

•Pelops was one of those (Asuitorsrgos) •he sought Atreusthe help of Oenomaus’Thyestes Zeus + Leda Zeus + Leda mechanic MyrtilusMyrtilus by(1 )offering him(2) HelenHippodameia + Menelaus Agamemnon on her wedding+ Clytemnestra night + Aegisthus (Sparta) (Argos) •Myrtilus put “wax linchpins” in Oenomaus’ Iphigechariotnia Electra Orestes AeschylusAeschylus TheThe HouseHouse ofof AtreusAtreus

Tantalus Oenomaus Atreus’ Family Tree Oenomaus (Lydia) (Elis)

Pelops + Hippodameia

• Oenomaus died during the(Argo s)race when the wheelsAtreus fell off his chariot Thyestes Zeus + Leda Zeus + Leda •but before the wedding(1) Pelops killed(2) HelenMyrtilus + Menelaus by kickingAgamemnon him + Clytemnestra off a cliff + Aegisthus (Sparta) (Argos) •as he fell to his death, Myrtilus cursed Pelops and hisIphige wholenia Electra family Orestes line AeschylusAeschylus TheThe HouseHouse ofof AtreusAtreus